________________ - 7 Verman, Mundasthala, Badali and several other monuments scattered in different parts of the country like Sravana Belgola and Chandragiri in Mysore, Belur, Mudabhidri and Karkal in Karnataka, the Elephanta in Maharashtra, the Ajanta and allora in Andhradesa, the Hathi Gumpha in Kalinga, the Sittan avasal in Pudukottai, the Sramanagiri at Madurai, the rock cut cave temple at Trichinopoly and the rock temple of Chitral in Travancore. There also exists several Nirgrantha basthies and monasteries in the dense forests of Karnataka and many other parts of India. All the se ancient historical monuments prove not only the antiquity of Jainism, but also the relics found in these centres give further credence to the view that Jainism had been flourishing all over India from pre-historic times. These facts have been corroborated by ancient Buddhist scriptures. I have reproduced in this publication a few reliable references from Vedic scriptures in support of our contention that Jainism was anterior to Vedic culture. We have also reproduced in the same Appendix certain authentic records from Buddhist scriptures to prove the hoary antiquity of Jainism. I would also like to mention here the views of a learned professor Sri Amrita Chandra Seal who had said that the Jaina conoept of twentyfour Thirthan karas in its religion is bonafide and a similar belief of twentyfour prophets, incarnations and enlightened ones which we find in some other religious schools might have been absorbed in them from Jainism. We have authentic proof of the prevalence of Jaina religion even beyond the seas in Western countries like
